"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? A newer addition to the Dallas museum scene, the Perot Museum opened in 2012 to fill a much-needed gap: the city's science and children's museum category. (When the museum was incorporated in 2006, it united the city's science, children's, and natural history museums). Today the Perot Museum occupies 180,000 square feet near downtown, hosting 11 different exhibition halls. What will we find in the permanent collection? Given that this is essentially three museums in one, exhibits are wide-ranging: You can experience a simulated earthquake, construct your own bird and then fly it using 3D glasses, or feed terrarium animals. Needless to say, it's got science and natural history covered, with plenty of exhibitions to entertain little ones too. Is it easy to get around? The museum is shiny and new, which makes it bright and easy to navigate. It's also very green—the Green Building Initiative gave the Thom Mayne-designed complex its highest possible rating. What did you make of the crowd? An abundance of large groups can make the big museum surprisingly crowded. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere? The superb onsite café, operated by Wolfgang Puck, makes it easy to spend a whole day here. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? The vast galleries and diversity of exhibits will keep almost anyone entertained." - Laura Ratliff
